Mirror Maze on Cannery Row, Monterey, California

Not far from the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Cannery Row is a little known attraction. This is a place called Mirror Maze. Here is their web site. I saw this on our trip down to Monterey last year, but it wasn't until this year that I decided to see what it was all about. What it is is a wonderful maze made with mirrors.

It is quite fun for adults, but probably especially so for kids. It is not impossibly difficult and there is nothing in it to frighten kids (or adults) too much. There are a couple of Ninja type figures and a policeman figure that tries to arrest you. There are no death pits, snakes, giant spiders, dropping cages or any other booby traps. So you don't need to worry that your kids will disappear. If your kid is the Beaver or Dennis the Menace that might be disappointing, but there it is.

The lighting and mirror reflections create a bewildering number of illusions and dead ends. There are glasses you can wear to make it even more difficult to find your way out. There is Blacklighting which makes the columns glow, but the lights go off briefly on occasions to create total darkness and then flash with a strobe effect.

Here are some pictures:

I went thru the maze four times. First using the Right-hand Method, then the Left-Hand. I tried to do it without touching the mirrors, but you really must keep a hand in front of you to keep from smacking your face into a mirror. Apparently the workers must clean the mirrors four or five times a day. The final time I went through from exit to entrance.

It is cool how you will sometimes see another person down what looks like a long hallway and then, lo and behold, that same person appears right next to you from behind a mirror wall. Amazing! If you get there and there a lots of kids going thru it you will have more fun, because they clearly enjoy it so much. I loved it as well, but then I love mazes in general.

It is a bit pricey, but the pass lasts all day. Get there early before going to the aquarium and you can go back later. The workers when we were there,Cortland and Christina (I could have that last wrong), were friendly and helpful. They do have special rates for groups over 12. This is designed for birthday parties.

This maze was designed by Adrian Fisher Design. They have created several other mazes including one in San Diego. Here is their web site.

On the other side of their space is a Bank Heist game. In this you try to foil a laser beam alarm setup like in Mission Impossible. For me it is impossible. I'm not even close to flexible enough for this one. There is a separate price tag for this side.

Here is a picture of the monitor for this one.

The bottom line it that this is a fun attraction which will be more fun the more friends that try it together.